Before you buy make sure you look at these Side by Side Stats, Reviews and Comparisons of two All American Shotguns!

Mossberg 500 Summary:

Over 10 million sold, and over 50 years
in the field, the 500 is not only the most prolific and reliable shotgun in the
world, it is also the most versatile shotgun platform available, with a model
to fit every season, every application—and every user.

With over 60 years in the making, Its
solid, dependable action makes it America’s favorite, and continual upgrades
make it the most advanced, well-rounded family of pump shotguns around. Like
all Model 870 shotguns, it features a receiver milled from a solid billet of
steel for maximum strength and reliability. The twin action bars prevent
binding and twisting so that you'll always have the chance to get off a second
shot. 2 year limited warranty.

Mossberg 500
safety is near the rear of the receiver on the tang. Remington 870 safety is a cross bolt safety
in the trigger guard.

The Shell Lifter

Another noticeable difference between the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 is the shell lifter. The Mossberg 500 shell lifter stays up nearly all of the time allowing the shooter to easily reload. The Remington 870 shell lifter stays down and must be pushed up before loading another round. There are aftermarket modifications you can make it stay up.

The Extractor

The Mossberg 500 has 2 extractors on the bolt and they can be easily replaced. The Remington 870 has 1 extractor on the bolt and requires a gunsmith to replace the extractor.

Here are two great American Shotguns that are available in many different configurations. How do you decide between the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870? They are very similar in a side by side comparison, so handle both shotguns before you buy and see which one feels more natural for you.